The Dr. Oz Show Brings The Cool Back To Science With Nationwide Science Fair

Special Online Episodes Include Celebrities Jimmy Kimmel, Queen Latifah, Russell Simmons, Joel McHale and Wolfgang Puck as a Kick Off to a Call For Submissions From Students Nationwide

May 12, 2014

NEW YORK, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The three-time Emmy® award-winning, The Dr. Oz Show is bringing the cool factor back to science for America's youth with the kick-off of Dr. Oz's Celebrity Science Fair on Thursday, May 15th. Dr. Oz's Celebrity Science Fair is a series of online episodes in which celebrities present a science project to Dr. Oz and he grades them in a hilarious interaction. The Celebrity Science Fair series serves as an entertaining opener to the first-ever Dr. Oz National Science Fair nationwide call for submissions from students performing real science projects in hopes of having an opportunity to appear on the show and compete before Dr. Oz and a panel of celebrity judges.

"When I was young I was fascinated by science and how the world works, which led to my life in medicine and many academic studies I have had the privilege to participate in as a doctor," said Mehmet Oz, host, The Dr. Oz Show. "While our show teaches viewers steps to a healthier life, I can also use the unique access in the entertainment industry to show kids that science is fun, cool, and ultimately essential to all our lives. The celebrities who were great sports to appear in the inaugural videos share that priority and we will continue to produce vignettes with stars who understand the need to motivate youth."

The Celebrity Science Fair

Jimmy Kimmel, Russell Simmons, Joel McHale, Queen Latifah, and Wolfgang Puck are just some of the inaugural guests appearing in Dr. Oz's Celebrity Science Fair. Additional stars will be added throughout the year, with episodes being announced and promoted via The Dr. Oz Show social media channels and web site. The motif of the series has Dr. Oz appearing in character as a tough teacher and the presenting guest explaining a simple funny project, usually rigged to go awry. The guest has to react quickly as the experiment fails or as Dr. Oz grills them with questions for which they are unprepared. Designed to be shared, the celebrity video series is a calling card for the real contest, with information on how and where to submit projects through the web site.

The Dr. Oz National Science Fair

Open to children and students up to grade 12, the national competition will receive submissions through www.doctoroz.com/sciencefair in the following categories: grades K-6, grades 7 and 8, and grades 9-12. Submissions by students 8th grade and younger must be done with a parent or teacher. Grades 9-12 can be submitted with a teacher, individually or by groups of students. Entire classes can submit in any category. Projects will be judged on how well the presenter explains the scientific principle being demonstrated as well as whether the experiment outcome is as intended. Selected video submissions to the Dr. Oz National Science Fair will be available to view online at www.doctoroz.com/sciencefair. Additional rules and guidelines are available on the web site. Submissions close October 31 and winners will be selected by a panel of celebrity judges. Judges will be announced later in the summer.

With the two parallel tracks, Dr. Oz is making science fun for everyone. Adult fans can watch the humorous videos of stars trying to "make the grade" while students, parents and teachers can submit projects in the hopes of a real life chance to have their project be recognized for its merit.

The three-time Daytime Emmy® award-winning The Dr. Oz Show, hosted by the two-time Daytime Emmy award-winning host, Dr. Mehmet Oz, is now in its fifth season. The Dr. Oz Show, which is currently seen in 118 countries worldwide, debuted domestically in 2009 with the biggest ratings in over a decade in daytime television.

Dr. Oz, the world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, served as health expert on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" since 2004, sharing advice with viewers to help them live their best life from the inside out. Dr. Oz has co-authored six New York Times Best Sellers including "YOU: The Owner's Manual", "YOU: The Smart Patient", "YOU: On a Diet", "YOU: Staying Young", "YOU: Being Beautiful" and "YOU Having a Baby" as well as the award-winning "Healing from the Heart". He has a regular column in TIME Magazine and O The Oprah Magazine.

Dr. Oz is vice-chair of the Department of Surgery and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital and performs 100 heart operations annually. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and health care policy. He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters, and medical books and has received several patents.

Cleared in over 99% of the country, The Dr. Oz Show is co-produced by Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and distributed by SPT. The Dr. Oz Show is executive produced by Mindy Borman and Amy Chiaro.

About Harpo Studios

Harpo Studios is the award-winning production company created, inspired and led by Oprah Winfrey. For 25 years, Harpo Studios produced the number one talk show, "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and has been instrumental in launching highly-rated syndicated series, "The Dr. Oz Show" and "Dr. Phil." Harpo currently creates and produces over 130 hours of original television programming exclusively for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Popular series include the Emmy award-winning "Oprah's Lifeclass" and "Super Soul Sunday," the Emmy award nominated "Oprah's Master Class," "Oprah's Next Chapter," "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" and "Iyanla: Fix My Life," as well as a variety of specials. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine publication, credited as one of the most successful women's magazines today. Harpo Films develops and produces feature films; plus, Harpo Radio produces Oprah Radio featuring a broad range of daily programming available on Sirius Channel 204 and XM Channel 107.

About Sony Pictures Television

Sony Pictures Television (http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com), a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, around the world and for a multitude of platforms. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) boasts a current program slate that includes top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. SPT has 18 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies in 13 countries outside the U.S. and also maintains offices in 33 countries. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio includes 124 channel feeds available in 159 countries, reaching more than 840 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns production company Embassy Row and is a part owner of cable channel Game Show Network (GSN), 3D channel 3net, premier horror/thriller website and VOD service FEARnet and national U.S media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premier national advertising sales companies and handles the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in U.S. digital businesses including FEARnet, DrOz.com and PlayStation.